Maybe they’re cracked? Perhaps their seals have deteriorated and are letting in cold or heat? Whatever the case may be, your vinyl windows need repair.
The question now is: how do you find the right vinyl window repair company to help fix them? The answer: use the following tips. Without further ado, here are 10 tips for choosing between window repair services in Colorado Springs.
1. Scour Google
Your search should begin with a scouring of Google. Find the search box and type in something like “vinyl window repair near me“. This will show you a collection of vinyl window repairers in your area.
Next to each selection, there will be a star rating. There will also be a link to customer reviews for the given selection. Use these ratings and reviews to find the most reputable companies in your area.
Then, choose between 3 and 5 of these and write them down on a piece of paper. These will be the companies that you compare further.
2. Ask People in Your Life
Not only should you consult Google when searching for a window repair company but you should also ask the people in your life. For instance, your brother or best friend or uncle, or co-worker might have used window repair services recently. If they were satisfied with the service they received, they might very well make a good recommendation.
And let’s be honest: a recommendation from someone in your life is a lot more credible to you than a recommendation from someone online. You can trust it more and will therefore take it more seriously.
You don’t have to go with the window repair company that’s recommended to you. However, you can add it to your pool and compare it with the candidates that already exist in your pool.
3. Get a Feel for Experience
Let’s just get this out of the way: you should not choose a new company to repair your windows. Yes, these companies might have what’s needed in order to complete the task. However, their lack of work experience and reputation makes them a risky bet.
This is why we recommend choosing a company with at least 2 years of experience on its side. A company that has established a solid reputation over 2 years of consistent work is likely a safe bet.
Besides, companies with less than 2 years of experience are likely still fine-tuning their operational processes. Therefore, they’re probably lacking in customer service, payment processing, or other attributes.
4. Check for Proof of Insurance
When fixing your window, there’s always a possibility that your window repair technician could do damage to it or something else on your property. Obviously, you don’t want to have to pay for this damage. This is where insurance coverage becomes important.
Namely, if your window repair service has insurance coverage, they’ll undoubtedly cover any of the damages that they might have caused. If they don’t have insurance coverage, on the other hand, they might try to duck paying for it. This would force you to either pay for it yourself or file a lawsuit against the company.
There’s also the issue of one of the window repair company’s employees getting injured on your property. If this happens, you could end up in a situation in which you’re forced to cover workers’ compensation and hospital bills. But if the company has the proper insurance, the likelihood of this is extremely low.
Now, what types of insurance should you look out for? General liability insurance and workers’ compensation insurance. See proof of both of these before signing any contracts.
5. See Proof of Licensure
There is no specialized license needed in order for a company to fix windows professionally in the state of Colorado. However, you should still make sure that your chosen company has a business license with the state.
A business license indicates that the company is legitimate and that it’s meeting any standards or regulations required by law. Choosing a company without a business license is a risky move.
As such, before hiring a company, you need to see proof of its licensure. Now, you could ask for this in person. On the other hand, you could just look it up on the Colorado state license lookup tool.
Simply type in the name of the company you’re considering and see if a license pops up. If it does, you’ll be good to go. If it doesn’t, you should strongly consider going with another company.
6. Ask for Pictures of Past Work
Another thing you should do when searching for a vinyl window repair company is to ask for pictures of their past work. This way, you can get a visual idea of what they’re capable of.
Most companies will have before and after pictures of various repairs. For instance, they might have a before and after image set of a cracked window that they repaired.
In many cases, you’ll be able to find these images on the company’s website. If they don’t exist on the company’s website, you should simply ask for them over the phone.
All of this said, if a company doesn’t have images of its work, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it can’t get the job done. This is more of a “nice to have” rather than a “must have”. It will help dictate your decision but is not imperative.
7. Ask About How They’ll Facilitate the Repair
Another thing you should consider doing is asking about how the company will facilitate the needed repair. This way, you can get an idea as to whether or not they actually know what they’re doing.
Look up the type of repair that you require online. This should give you a baseline idea as to what it entails.
Then, compare the specifics of the online instructions to the specifics of what the window repair company tells you. If they closely align, the window repair company is probably a solid option.
8. Discuss Specialties
Most window repair companies will work with all styles of windows. Others will only repair, say, bay windows or bow windows. This is because the latter are specialized and particularly knowledgeable about what the repair of those windows entails.
Now, a generalist window repair service will work for most windows. They usually have no problem with hung windows or sliding windows, for example.
Note, though, that if your window is a little more complex, you should consider going with a specialist. A specialist will have all of the tools and knowledge needed to correctly facilitate a repair.
Complex windows include bay windows, bow windows, casement windows, and maybe awning windows.
9. Inquire About Warranties
When you pay to have your window repaired, you’re paying to have it repaired correctly. Unfortunately, people make mistakes. Even the best window repair companies make mishaps from time to time.
Therefore, it’s vital that, before signing any contracts, you ensure that there’s some sort of warranty included with the repair. The extent of the warranty is all up to personal preference. However, it should ensure that all costs are covered for the foreseeable future in the event that the repair doesn’t last.
And don’t just take the company’s word for it. Make sure that you’ve got your warranty down in writing, preferably in the contract that you sign prior to receiving service.
10. Get Cost Estimates
Finally, you’re going to want to obtain cost estimates. This way, you have a general idea as to what each company’s services will run you.
See, different window repair companies can have wildly different rates. Therefore, you shouldn’t necessarily go with the first estimate you get.
Call up the companies on your list and simply tell them what type of work you need to have done. They’ll assess the work mentally, come up with a cost figure, and provide it to you. Some might even email you a document containing itemized figures.
Once you have estimates from your 3 to 5 prospective companies, compare said estimates and use them to inform your choice. Note that you shouldn’t necessarily go with the lowest or the highest estimate. A high estimate doesn’t necessarily indicate high-quality service; a low estimate doesn’t necessarily indicate the best deal in the long term.
Need Vinyl Window Repair in Colorado Springs?
Are you looking for vinyl window repair in Colorado Springs? If so, you don’t need to look any further than Complete Window Care.
Our team is well-versed in repairing vinyl windows, having facilitated countless window repairs throughout the area. If you’re looking for a skilled and proven window repair service, we’re the service you seek.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment!